Macular Degeneration
The macula can be found in the centre of the retina of your eye. When deposits form in this area, it can progress into a condition that causes a lack of sight in the centre of your vision and eventual blindness, especially in the elderly.
In the video below, an American ophthalmologist provides a detailed lesson on how the eye works, the aging of the retina and the development of macular degeneration (MD).
The video below is the second part of the video above, which goes on to discuss prevention and treatment of MD.
MD is thought to be the main cause of blindness in Australia, with those aged over 65 most at risk. According to the Macular Degeneration Foundation, 1 in 7 people over the age of 50 are affected by MD in this country.
The exact causes of MD are unclear, so preventing MD is not entirely straightforward. However, there are a number of risk factors associated with MD:
- age - once you reach 65, you are at increased risk of experiencing MD
- family history - studies have shown that you are four times more likely to suffer from MD if your family has a history of the disease
- smoking - numerous studies have shown that smokers are more likely to suffer from MD, with this study from the University of Sydney showing that smoking increased the chances four-fold of serious MD forming compared to those who have never smoked
- poor health - certain antioxidants, nutrients and essential fatty acids, such as those found in fish, are thought to assist in good eye health, so a diet lacking in these may increase the chances of having MD
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prolonged sun exposure - there is some evidence that too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun might cause MD, so wearing 100% UV protection sunglasses could be important
Has MD affected you or someone you know? Do you need help, or are you able to provide advice? If so, please join the SeniorSpace community discussing MD on our forum here.
Useful Links
Health Insite, an Australian Government website, has an index of resources relating to MD here.
The Macular Degeneration Foundation is a national foundation focused on providing programs aimed at education, detection, treatment and support for those with MD.
A simple eye test to check if you have symptoms of MD, called the Amsler grid, can be accessed on the myDr.com.au website here.
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